26 THE ANGLER S GUIDE. 



bread is quite soaked or saturated, squeeze it nearly 

 dry, then add the bran and pollard by handfuls, — equal 

 quantities of each, — and knead them together, similar 

 to making bread, until the whole is nearly as stiff as 

 clay : in making this ground-bait, it requires some la- 

 bour and time, but it will amply repay you for the trou- 

 ble, as it is the best and cleanest ground-bait for Carp, 

 Chub, Roach, and Dace. When I use it for Barbel, 

 in the river Lea, I first break about a quarter of a 

 pound of greaves with a hammer, almost to dust, and 

 soak it well in water, then work it up with the bread, 

 bran, and pollard. In using this bait, you avoid the 

 dirty use of clay, and can also prepare it before you 

 leave home : it may be made by substituting barley- 

 meal for the bran and pollard. This ground-bait should 

 only be used in stiU water, or gentle eddies and streams, 

 as, from its lightness, it would be carried away in a ra- 

 pid stream, and, consequently, the Fish would soon 

 disperse in pursuit of it. Parboiled Barley, made into 

 small balls with treacle, is good ground-bait in still wa- 

 ters for Carp and Tench. 



Ground-Bait made with Clay, Bran, and Gentles, for 

 Chub, Roach, and Carp. 



Mix the bran and clay together in lumps, about the 

 size of an apple 3 put a dozen or more gentles in the 

 middle, and close the clay lightly over them, similar to 

 making a dumpling : this ground-bait is very enticing 

 to Carp, Roach, and Dace j it is particularly well cal- 

 culated for baiting in a pond, a still hole, or gentle 



